The Dawn Palace by Helen M. Hoover
"The Dawn Palace" by Helen M. Hoover retells the ancient Greek myth of Medea and Jason from Medea's perspective, redefining her as the heroine of the story. The narrative explores themes of identity, strength, and resilience amid the challenges faced by a powerful woman in a patriarchal society. Abandoned by her mother at a young age and neglected by her father, Medea grows up isolated yet becomes a skilled healer and priestess through training by Circe. Her romantic involvement with Jason begins when he arrives in Colchis seeking the Golden Fleece, leading to a tumultuous journey filled with betrayal and heartache. As Medea rises to prominence as the queen of Corinth, she confronts Jason's infidelity and the consequences of his ambition. The story culminates in tragedy and transformation, with Medea ultimately returning to her roots and finding a sense of reconciliation. Hoover's work is noted for its historical authenticity, reflecting her commitment to thorough research in crafting engaging and insightful narratives.
Subject Terms
The Dawn Palace by Helen M. Hoover
First published: 1988
Subjects: Gender roles, love and romance, and the supernatural
Type of work: Novel
Type of plot: Folktale, historical fiction, and moral tale
Time of work: 1300 b.c.
Recommended Ages: 15-18
Locale: Ancient Greece and the Black Sea
Principal Characters:
Medea , the daughter of the king of Colchis who is betrayed by Jason and gains a reputation as a witch because of her superior knowledge of healing and scienceJason , the leader of the Argonauts, a self-serving adventurer, and the husband of MedeaAeetes , Medea’s father and the king of ColchisCirce , Aeetes’ sister, reputed to be a witch, who takes over the education of MedeaHercules , the legendary strongman and Jason’s rival, who tries to warn Medea about Jason’s true nature
Form and Content
The Dawn Palace retells the classic Greek story of Medea and Jason from Medea’s point of view, thus making her the heroine. The story also provides a commentary on the difficulties confronting a strong, intelligent woman trying to maintain her identity in a male-dominated world. Deserted by her mother when she is three, Medea is told by her father, King Aeetes of Colchis, that her mother died, a statement that she learns is a lie when she secretly removes the death mask from the corpse that is supposed to be her mother’s. Trained by Circe to become a priestess, Medea also becomes a gifted healer by the time that she is ten years old. Circe instills in her the desire to become a lifelong learner, a role that she fulfills admirably but that gives her a range and depth of knowledge that makes some people suspect her of being a witch.
Largely ignored by her father and without her mother, Medea grows up lonely and longing for love. When Jason arrives in Colchis searching for the Golden Fleece, Medea instantly falls in love with him, helps him complete the seemingly impossible tasks that Aeetes requires him to accomplish before he can have the fleece, and runs away with Jason when he leaves Colchis with the fleece. Medea sincerely believes Jason’s oath that he will marry her and always love her, in spite of warnings from Atalanta and Hercules that Jason is a calculating adventurer concerned only with meeting his own goals by whatever means he deems necessary.
When a fleet from Colchis pursues them, Medea is shocked when Jason kills Apsystus, Aeetes’ only son, under a flag of truce and throws his body to the sharks to create a diversion so that the Argo can escape capture, but she still continues to love Jason and aid him in his quest for power. Eventually, Jason and Medea become king and queen of Corinth, the original home of her father, Aeetes. Although Medea works hard to improve the economy and life of the people of Corinth, Jason is content to philander and take credit for Medea’s accomplishments.
Medea finally realizes Jason’s true character when he returns from Thebes with plans to divorce her and marry the daughter of King Creon. Jason admits that he never loved her, that he merely used to her to gain his ends. In retaliation for Jason’s betrayal, Medea sets fire to Corinth and King Creon’s daughter, but not before Jason kills their three youngest children. Jason eventually dies in exile, punished by the gods for his unfaithfulness. Medea, on the other hand, returns to Colchis after a period of wandering, helps return Aeetes to the throne that he has lost to her uncle Perses, and is reconciled with Aeetes. She is confident that some day her oldest son, Medeius, who survived Jason’s killing spree because he was living with the centaur Chiron, will succeed Aeetes as king of Colchis. At the end of the story, in response to Aeetes’ question about what was the purpose of the events that happened to them, Medea replies, “There is a pattern, a purpose, but we can’t see it clearly.”
Critical Context
The Dawn Palace, like many of Helen Hoover’s other books, is soundly grounded in historical research, as Hoover makes clear in her author’s notes. In a similar fashion, The Lion’s Cub (1974), selected as a Children’s Book of the Year by the Child Study Association of America, is based on Hoover’s reading of old journals and diaries. The book presents the story of Jemal Edin Shamyl, a little boy used as a pawn by his father, the imam of Daghestan, and Nicholas I during the Wars of the Caucasus. Hoover’s interest in history is also reflected in Another Heaven, Another Earth (1981), selected by the American Library Association as a Best Book for Young Adults; it is based on fragments of a diary and the letters of a Virginia colonist who died waiting for a ship from the Old World that never came. Readers can be assured that all of Hoover’s historical fiction is grounded in research.